Internationally celebrated illusionist
Kevin Spencer, and Cherokee Elder, Historian, and Storyteller,
Freeman Owle combined to provide faculty, students, and members
of the community an unforgettable “evening of health,
wellness, and the arts.” This is the second time that the
Mary B. Martin School of the Arts and the College of Public
Health have collaborated as a part of the Leading Voices in
Public Health Lecture Series.
http://www.etsu.edu/cph/speakersseries.aspx

Cherokee Elder, Historian and Storyteller Freeman Owle
talks with faculty and students in front of the Gold
Humanism Honor Society Photography Exhibit

Kevin Spencer, along with his wife Cindy,
have been recognized as Merlin Award recipients by the
International Magicians Society, and have received numerous
other awards and recognitions.
http://www.spencersmagic.com

After about thirty minutes of remarkable
illusions, Kevin discussed how he uses magic as a mechanism to
teach new skills and confidence to the physically challenged.
http://www.spencersmagic.com/blog/?m=20120129
The Spencers have developed “The Healing of Magic”
http://magictherapy.com/index.html a
systematic program that uses simple magic tricks in physical
and psychosocial rehabilitation for patients with physical
limitations, brain injuries, learning disabilities and other
similar challenges. They have also developed HOCUS FOCUS
“a comprehensive curriculum available to teachers to
provide them with a visual, exciting, and motivating way to
allow students to safely explore skill levels, improve existing
skills, and develop new ones.”
http://www.hocusfocuseducation.com

Illusionist Kevin Spencer enthralled the audience with
a series of remarkable illusions

Cherokee Elder, Historian, and Storyteller
opened the evening with a number of stories about the history
of health and holistic wellness in the Cherokee tradition. He
interwove stories about the history of the Cherokee people with
stories of his own life on the Cherokee reservation in North
Carolina, and lessons on the importance of health professionals
interacting with the patient in the context of that
patient’s culture, beliefs and heritage. A skilled carver
of wood and stone, he also displayed a number of the items that
he has made.
http://www.freemanowle.com

Illusionist Kevin Spencer explains how the
“Healing of Magic” uses magic tricks to assist
in physical and psychosocial rehabilitation.

Both performers took considerable time
after the show to meet with members of the audience, answer
questions, and discuss a range of item of interest. The College
of Public Health presented both with plaques identifying them
as “Humanitarian Scholars” in the College.

During intermission, the Gold Humanism
Honor Society of the James H. Quillen College of Medicine,
displayed some remarkable photographs of the
“artistic” lives of medical students and other
health professionals.